Cats meow for a variety of reasons, and while many cat owners consider meowing cute, excessive meowing may become annoying. Greeting you hello, calling attention to something, voicing disapproval, indicating pain, and asking you to pet her are all reasons a cat might meow. But some cats become conditioned to meow in exchange for attention. Once you've determined that there are no medical or environmental problems your cat is facing, you can begin to train your cat to stop her from meowing excessively.

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Steps

Method 1 of 3: Solving Medical Problems for Your Cat

1

Make sure your cat has food and water. A common cause of meowing in cats is to let owners know that the food or water bowls are empty. If you know your cat is prone to meowing at meal times, try sticking to a strict schedule, rather than rewarding her meowing immediately with food. It will get both of you used to a certain meal time, and may help curb excessive meowing before it starts.[1]

While you may choose to restrict your cat's access to food, make sure that she always has access to clean drinking water at all times, day and night.

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2

Check the litter box. If your cat is meowing excessively, there's a chance that she's trying to let you know you need to scoop out her litter box. Or perhaps she's trying to let you know that she needs to use the litter box, but cannot find it or access it. This is another instance in which sticking to a regularly scheduled maintenance schedule may help correct the problem before your cat starts meowing.[2]

Empty the litter box and replace the litter once or twice a week, depending on how many cats you have and how much they use the litter box.[4]

3

Make sure your cat is not in pain. If your cat is meowing excessively, it's possible that she has hurt herself, or that she is feeling ill. Try a quick physical examination of your cat, or consider taking her in for a check-up at the vet.[5]

Use one or both hands to gently examine your cat's abdomen, beginning at the spine and moving toward the belly. Look for signs of pain or discomfort as you gently palpate the abdomen.[7]

Use one or both hands to gently examine your cat's limbs and paws. Do not overextend your cat's limbs. Gently bend the joints as your cat would do if she were walking and moving. Note any pain or discomfort as you examine her limbs, joints, and paws.[8]

4

Consider your cat's breed. Some breeds of cat, most notably Siamese cats, are more "vocal" than others, and they are naturally more prone to meowing and yowling. If this is the case, your cat may simply feel the need to meow, regardless of her circumstances.[9]

5

Consider your cat's age. Older cats may meow excessively because of health problems - of which over active thyroid glands are the most common. The excess of thyroid hormone stimulates the cat and she is likely to meow at random. Another cause can be the cat that has become deaf, and lost their "volume control", and his voice becomes louder and more insistent as a result. If in doubt, get your cat checked by a vet.

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Method 2 of 3: Solving Environmental Problems for Your Cat

1

Consider whether your cat has undergone a recent change. Moving to a new residence, changing your work schedule, rearranging the furniture, and adding a new pet to your household can all be factors that make a cat meow. Even relatively small changes like these can seem catastrophic to cats, who don't understand that their living situation hasn't necessarily changed all that much. If you've recently moved or gotten a new pet, give your cat time to adjust before trying to train her out of meowing. There's a chance she may give it up on her own as she adjusts and becomes comfortable to the new living situation.[10]

2

Consider whether your cat is lonely. Sometimes a cat will meow to let you know that she misses you, or needs more affection. Try spending more time with her, as this may alleviate some of the boredom and loneliness that is causing her to meow excessively.[11]

3

Spend more time playing with your cat. If your cat is meowing because she's bored or experiencing separation anxiety, spending time each day actively playing with her may help break her of that habit.[12]

4

Give your cat an automatic feeder. Having an automatic feeder that dispenses food at a regularly scheduled time may help break your cat from meowing when she wants to be fed.[13]

5

Install a cat door. If your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, and she meows whenever she wants to be let inside or outside, consider putting in a small cat door. Most existing doors can be modified to allow for the installation of a cat door. Make sure you have purchased the cat door insert before cutting open your existing door.[14] Note: this should only be done for a cat that has already lived as an outdoor cat. If your cat has lived her whole life indoors, allowing her access to the outside world may lead to serious injury or death, as she is not adapted to living outside your home.

Measure your cat's height and width, and make sure your cat will fit through the cat door you've purchased. Trace an outline of the door-to-be. You want to ensure that the cat door you install is the correct size before you make any incisions into your existing door.[15]

Take your door off its hinges and lay it flat across a level surface. A woodwork/saw horse works best.[16]

Drill holes in each corner of the cat door to-be. Once you've drilled the initial holes, use a jigsaw to follow the lines you've traced, and cut out the square or rectangle that will become your cat's entrance.[17]

Insert the frame of the cat door you've purchased. It should fit flush within the hole you've cut into your door.[18]

Screw the cat door frame into the hole you've cut in your existing door. Screw your door back onto its hinges, and test out the door system.[19]

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Method 3 of 3: Training Your Cat Out of Meowing

1

Do not reward your cat when she meows. If all of your cat's needs are met and she is meowing just for attention, and you've made certain that there are no environmental issues or health problems, try simply ignoring her meowing. Over time your cat may come to realize that you will only give her attention when she is behaving properly.[20]

Do not yell at your cat for meowing excessively. Never hit or injure your cat.

Be patient with your cat. Training any animal takes time and consistency, but eventually she will learn what behaviors elicit a positive response on your end.

2

Ask your vet if your cat has been spayed/neutered. Sometimes cats that desire a mate and have not been spayed or neutered will meow excessively during the breeding season, which typically extends from February through September in most places located in the Northern Hemisphere. Talk to your veterinarian about whether your cat is in her breeding season, and whether a spaying/neutering procedure might alleviate the problem.[21]

3

Use a training clicker. Some trainers have found that if a cat is meowing incessantly, training the cat to anticipate a treat when she is quiet may help break the meowing habit.[22]

Every time your cat stops meowing, activate the clicking sound.

Give your cat a small treat. Praise her for doing what you wanted.

This may take a long time, but with a little patience, your cat may come to associate her silence with praise and/or treats.

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Tips

If your cat does not have any medical, emotional, or environmental problems, she may be meowing just for your affection. If you come to her aid it will only reinforce her understanding that vocalizing is the way to get what she wants. It is best to endure this behavior if this is the problem (sometimes ear plugs to sleep may be needed), and reward her when she is not vocalizing.

Warnings

If you believe your cat may have a medical problem, take her to the vet immediately. Do not delay treatment. It is better to take her to the vet and learn that she needs more attention at home, for example, than to delay taking her in and run the risk that a potential medical condition may worsen.

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